The Rising People’s Party (RPP) in Nagaland has launched a scathing critique against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his recent comments regarding the electoral losses of the North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Manipur.
In a strongly worded statement, the RPP condemned Sarma’s repeated targeting of Christians and questioned the logic behind attributing NEDA’s defeat to a specific religious group. The party emphasized that voters, regardless of religious affiliations, base their electoral decisions on a variety of factors and asserted that reducing electoral outcomes to religious demographics is both narrow-minded and disrespectful to voters’ intelligence.
The RPP cited examples, such as Hindu Meiteis in Inner Manipur voting against the NEDA due to dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Modi’s policies, to underscore the complexity of electoral dynamics beyond religious affiliations.
Furthermore, the RPP criticized Sarma’s demeanor and language, arguing that his behavior undermines the dignity of the Chief Minister’s office. The party urged Sarma to conduct himself with greater decorum, reminding him of the Nagas’ historical tolerance towards similar incidents.
Highlighting instances where other political parties blamed external factors for electoral setbacks, the RPP accused Sarma of scapegoating and insulting the intelligence of voters.
In conclusion, the RPP suggested that NEDA’s electoral defeats might serve as a wake-up call for the chief ministers of Nagaland and Meghalaya, potentially leading to a more respectful and constructive dialogue in the future.